Rev. Doreen Lynnae Sterner Griffith, 52, of Johnstown, went home to be with her Lord and Savior after a courageous five-year battle with cancer on November 4, 2017. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Born May 30, 1965 in Jamestown, NY, to Dean and Elaine (Steeg) Sterner, she was preceded in death by her father; and grandparents Herman and Florence Steeg and Oscar and Evalene Sterner. She is survived by her mother, her husband of 31 years, the Rev. Mark A. Griffith; daughter Allison married to Adam Haer, siblings, Deanne married to Jack Coyne, Alan married to Sue, and Randall; brothers-in-law, Rev. Dr. William Griffith married to Deb, John and Cynthia Stahl, Greg and Susan Babik, numerous nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Bailey.
Doreen was a member of Brush Valley United Methodist Church. She loved to travel and has been to many countries, including a mission trip to France. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and was an avid reader. She loved to preach and filled many positions within the church. She was a good and faithful pastors wife for 17 years.
She graduated from Richland high school in 1983, Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1986, and Mt. Aloysius school of Nursing, Magna Cum Laude, in 2013. She was in the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa.
A cardiac rehabilitation nurse for 31 years at Conemaugh Medical Center, she spent that last five years pastoring at New Paris United Methodist Church and Brush Valley Community Charge of the United Methodist Church.
Friends will be received Wednesday from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at John Henderson Company Funeral Home, 215 Central Ave. There will also be a viewing Thursday from 10:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am at Brush Valley United Methodist Church with Rev. Ruth Ann Moore officiating. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Doreen suggested donations to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, "Because no child should have cancer."